The Republican-led General Assembly and McCrory declined to accept expansion last year because they said the state Medicaid office faced large shortfalls and troubled operations. But Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Aldona Wos told a legislative oversight committee Wednesday agency financial and structural improvements make offering credible options doable.

Wos stressed it would be up to others to decide on expansion, most of which would be paid by the federal government for the near future. Expansion is designed for hundreds of thousands of uninsured people who make too much for traditional Medicaid but not enough for subsidized exchange plans.

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BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A former Leland Police officer accused of leading a high-speed chase from Brunswick County into South Carolina was wanted on warrants that accuse him of threats against a woman and her children involving a rifle.

The warrants say Hank Smith pointed the AR-15 rifle at the woman and told her he would kill her and her children. The alleged incident Sept. 7 led to charges of assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon, assault by pointing a gun and communicating threats.

A Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said says around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday deputies tried to serve the warrants on Smith, 40, of Supply. The spokeswoman says Smith fled from deputies, which started a chase. Multiple agencies including BSCO pursued Smith, who was armed with a gun and firing shots at officers, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Detectives have since gotten warrants against Smith for flee/elude arrest and assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm.

Investigators say the chase continued into Horry County and ended on SC Highway 31, where Smith was taken into custody by South Carolina officials. Horry County Police say Smith is in an area hospital and will be charged when he is released. There’s no word yet on what those charges will be.